Las Vegas Weekly

January 30, 2010 · 4:50 PM

Live Blog: And the new 2010 Miss America is …

By Robin Leach

Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron has won the 2010 Miss America Pageant in Planet Hollywood. She won after wearing a yellow gown for Evening Wear, singing Beyonce’s “Listen” from “Dreamgirls” in the Talent competition and advising kids that they should do more outdoor activities to combat obesity. Cameron, 22, who wins a $50,000 scholarship, is a broadcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University and hopes to become an anchor.

The first runner-up was Miss California Kristy Cavinder.

Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach tweeted from the 2010 Miss America Pageant in the Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood:

4:50 p.m.: Ten minutes to show time. The Theater for Performing Arts is fully sold out. The doors are being closed. Six judges just arrived in black tie. All the former Miss Americas have been introduced.

4:58 p.m.: The 89th Miss America Pageant is a go, and Mario Lopez is set to bring on all 53 contestants for the opening parade number. Great crowd screams.

5:07 p.m.: The show is on. I am in the second row right behind the judges, so you will get full live coverage.

5:07 p.m.: By volume of shouting, Miss Oklahoma looks to be a favorite.

5:10 p.m.: Wisconsin another heavy crowd favorite. Opening number is over. Mario starts the show with Clinton Kelly, who will rove backstage.

5:12 p.m.: First commercial. When we return, “America’s Choice” contestants.

5:16 p.m.: Field narrows with Miss Oklahoma, Miss Arkansas and Miss Kentucky picked from viewer votes. They will join 12 from the judges. Gretchen Carlson interviews the judges.

5:20 p.m.: Rush Limbaugh says he’s voting for confidence in the next Miss America.

5:22 p.m.: Clinton reveals the curveball: The hopefuls will choose one semifinalist!

5:26 p.m.: The next 11 semifinalists are Miss Tennessee, Miss Colorado, Miss California, Miss Indiana, Miss Hawaii, Miss Louisiana, Miss District of Columbia, Miss New Mexico, Miss Virginia, Miss Texas and Miss Nebraska.

5:30 p.m.: The remaining contestants vote for the 15th semifinalist.

5:32 p.m.: First time ever in any beauty pageant one girl chosen from those remaining. Who? The reveal is after the commercial.

5:36 p.m.: Mario introduces the 2009 Miss America Katie Stam to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.”

5:38 p.m.: Mario reveals the 15th semifinalist surprise chosen by the remaining girls. Congrats to Miss Oregon.

5:39 p.m.: Katie, who got engaged last night, onstage introduces her new fiance Brian Irk in the audience. Miss Oregon is in shock and crying. Swimsuits next!

5:40 p.m.: Miss Oregon has 120 seconds to rip off dress and slip into swimsuit. She had better move fast. She made it. Three girls eliminated after commercial.

5:49 p.m.: Mario announces the 12 women going on to Evening Wear: Miss Oklahoma, Miss Louisiana, Miss Hawaii, Miss Nebraska, Miss Virginia, Miss New Mexico, Miss Colorado, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Tennessee, Miss Kentucky, Miss Texas and Miss California.

5:51 p.m.: The 12 girls are changing in a tent backstage. Hairspray flying!

5:54 p.m.: Short of the judges, the first girl almost tumbled down steps in her ball gown. Girls are in their gowns and looking gorgeous.

5:58 p.m.: My first prediction: It will come down to Louisiana and Oklahoma.

6 p.m.: Two to be cut now. Only 10 will return for talent portion of the contest. Clinton interviews contestants onstage no longer competing.

6:06 p.m.: Top 10 will be announced and perform one at a time. First up for 90 seconds apiece is Miss California with ballet en pointe.

6:08 p.m.: Miss Virginia sings Beyonce’s “Listen” from “Dreamgirls.” She outrocks with phenomenal rendition.

6:10 p.m.: Miss District of Columbia sings aria from Puccini. She wows the crowd.

6:12 p.m.: Miss New Mexico sings “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”

6:14 p.m.: Miss Louisiana plays the piano. No announcement of what she was doing. It’s “Hallelujah” from Handel.

6:20 p.m.: About 30 minutes to a new Miss America. On we roll -- halfway point of Talent.

6:22 p.m.: Sixth performance is Miss Nebraska in a jazz dance number from “Legally Blonde.”

6:24 p.m.: Two of the six girls remaining onstage next to be cut. Miss Tennessee sings “I Will Always Love You,” exceeding Whitney Houston’s power.

6:26 p.m.: Miss Texas sings a Puccini aria.

6:28 p.m.: Miss Kentucky sings “On My Own” from “Les Miserables.”

6:30 p.m.: Final performer is Miss Hawaii doing a slow hula dance. Two go: Miss Colorado and Miss Oklahoma.

6:33 p.m.: Miss Oklahoma and Miss Colorado eliminated. Clinton walks them to join 41 others. HBO taping reality show with PH Towers Westgate mogul David Siegel and his wife.

6:38 p.m.: Most nerve-wracking part of pageant upcoming. The dreaded judge’s question. Mario’s mom gets a shout-out from the stage. Three girls cut.

6:39 p.m.: Miss California gets first question. Do we have the right to expect celebrities to be positive role models?

6:40 p.m.: Miss New Mexico: Should foreign languages be emphasized in our schools?

6:41 p.m.: Miss Virginia: What should be done to get our obese teens back on track?

6:42 p.m.: Miss Hawaii: Are Internet social networks good for young kids?

6:43 p.m.: Miss Tennessee: Tough love or being gentle?

6:45 p.m.: Miss Louisiana: Why we should send money abroad when we face so many issues at home?

6:46 p.m.: Miss Kentucky: Should athletes use drugs be banned for life?

6:47 p.m.: We are at final seven. Runway being positioned. Four runners-up to be named. That will leave three girls onstage. One of them will be new Miss America.

6:52 p.m.: 2009 Miss America Katie Stam makes her last appearance as Miss America.

6:55 p.m.: Fourth runner-up is Miss Kentucky Mallory Ervin. Third runner-up is Miss Louisiana Katherine Putnam. Second runner-up is Miss Tennessee Stephanie Wittler. First-runner up is Miss California Kristy Cavinder. The new Miss America is Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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